Price of fuel not expected to deter holiday drivers

Rain also won't hamper traffic, authority says

Authorities are expecting the usual holiday congestion to clog Ventura County roads this weekend despite record gas prices and predictions for cloudy weather with a chance of thunderstorms.

Friday gas prices in the county hit a record high of $4.03 a gallon for regular unleaded, but local holiday travel is expected to drop only 0.1 percent from last year, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California. About 2.12 million Southern Californians are expected to hit the road this weekend.

The California coast from Santa Barbara to Monterey was expected to be the fourth most popular destination for Southern California travelers, according to a recent survey of AAA travel agents. San Diego was listed as the most popular. Las Vegas, Mexico and national parks such as the Grand Canyon rounded out the top five.

Many Southern California residents traveling to the Central Coast will pass through Ventura, which could contribute to congestion here, Automobile Club spokeswoman Elaine Beno said.

While many were preparing Friday for the long weekend, a low-pressure zone was moving northwest into California from Nevada, said Stuart Seto, a weather specialist for the National Weather Service in Oxnard.

The weather system brought cloudy and cool conditions to Ventura County on Friday.

Partly cloudy conditions with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms were expected through today, Seto said.

The chance of precipitation should evaporate Sunday and Monday, but partly cloudy conditions were expected to persist through the long weekend. High temperatures in the 70s were expected.

The weather system could bring a quarter- to a half-inch of rain to much of the county over the weekend, Seto said. Local mountain areas had already accumulated nearly a half-inch by noon Friday, but many parts of the county had little more than a drizzle.

A handful of spinouts were reported on rain-slickened roads Friday, but no serious injuries were reported, said Officer Shawna Davison, a spokeswoman for the California Highway Patrol in Ventura.

Moorpark CHP Officer Brandon Mumme said he didn't expect people to change their plans because of a little moisture.

"Barring a whole lot of rain, we assume it's going to be a normal Memorial Day," Mumme said Friday. "Buckle up, leave a little bit early, slow down and definitely don't drink and drive."

More than 80 percent of uniformed CHP officers will be out on the roads this weekend watching for speeders, drunken drivers and people not wearing seat belts, authorities said.

The AAA recommends travelers check windshield wipers and tires before heading out this weekend and leave more space between other cars, Beno said.